Founded in October 2020 by motorhead and ex-racer Siddharth Chaturvedi, Boys and Machines aims to create an image of quality, reliability, ethical values and  long-term relationship with the customers and business partners in the pre-owned luxury car market in India.

A car collector for a long time, Chaturvedi realised that collecting cars was an expensive hobby with the high depreciation rates attached to premium cars. This realisation gave him the idea to convert his hobby into a business to maintain his passion for cars and make money. Once that plan was in place, Chaturvedi started to understand the business of premium car resale and scouted around to pick up the right people into his team to start this venture.

After finding the team, he finally started the new business venture in October 2020, when the market had recovered from the effects of the pandemic and started getting back to normal. The pandemic had injected a fresh thought into people’s head with evident uncertainty of the future. According to Chaturvedi, post the lockdown last year, the spending nature of people has changed, and instead of waiting for the future, people have started to live their dreams. This gave Boys and Machines the perfect opportunity to enter the market and capitalise on people’s spending power.

When asked to explain the business model of Boys and Machines, Chaturvedi said, “As for the business model, we work pan India online majorly. We try getting the cars at the best possible price and conditions across India and offer them to our customers at a slightly lesser rate than the market prices.”

Boys and Machines focuses on two things while buying and selling cars – first, finding the right quality product at the right price and second, providing a hassle-free payment method by closing the deal at one go. This practice builds a strong relationship with the sellers and buyers and helps the brand have a better bargain position.

However, selecting the right car is critical for the business.  Boys and Machines has created a robust three-step verification process. In the first step, the team scouts for cars around the country. On finding a car of their choice, details like chassis number, engine number and other vital information of the vehicle are shared with the respective OEM dealerships, which conduct a background check and provide information on the status and service history of the vehicle. This is the first seal of approval.

Once the car history is verified, the details are passed on to the insurance company, which helps verify any repair work or claims done on the car outside the dealership. If the vehicle passes this step, the company sends its trained staff to the vehicle’s location for physical inspection and approval. Once the vehicle passes all three stages, a meeting is set up with the owner, and the deal is closed in one go without any hassle.

This verification system gives Boys and Machines a competitive advantage while selecting a car as no details about the car can be manipulated.

When we asked how one determines the correct price of any car, Chaturvedi explained, “There is no fixed formula. It is based on the market condition, availability of the product and the demand for the product. These are the conditions that determine the price of a vehicle”.

Buying and stocking premium cars for sale is an expensive business, so we asked Chaturvedi about the financial setup in the company and its stockholding pattern. He replied, “Typically, we stock about 30-35 at any given point. Based on the ongoing trend and the vehicle availability, we try to find a customer for a car than a car for a customer”.

e then explained that the cars in demand are hard to come by. The ones that are listed on the market ask an exorbitant amount of money to purchase. “So, if one starts scouting only for cars in demand, one can hardly sell around five cars in a year. So instead of looking for cars in demand, resellers understand the needs of the market and stock vehicles accordingly.”

For instance, the market in Mumbai is highly SUV centric. Constant flooding and waterlogging problems have pushed car users to adapt to SUVs. So, based on the need, Boys and Machines stocks SUVs from different OEMs. However, the market in Delhi is different to the market in the west of India. In Delhi, people prefer to be driven around than driving around. So, this calls for stocking of both sedans and SUVs that offer an excellent chauffeur-driven experience.

The market in Hyderabad is a hotspot for sports cars, while the eastern market is highly unpredictable. Hence, these variations do not allow the company to stock cars hailing from a single brand or category.

Premium car service is also an expensive affair. Boys and Machines has solved this problem for its clientele with a dedicated customer service team. The business offers breakdown assistance anywhere in the country along with six months of engine and transmission warranty. 

The brand also offers a fixed buy-back option on every car sold at a rate of 25 percent depreciation a year. The buy-back price is decided on the day of the purchase, and customers can come back to the showroom after one year and exchange their car at the pre-determined price.

These small steps go a long way in building customer confidence and aids Boys and Machines in retaining 100 percent of its clientele. Also, word of mouth is a significant marketing source that helps the brand name reach a larger audience.

Talking about the expansion plans for Boys and Machines, the managing director explained that they are on course to inaugurate eight outlets by the end of the year. At the moment, there are three working outlets in Gurugram, Mumbai and Kolkata. The fourth one in Hyderabad is ready to be opened, but the launch has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID situation and the subsequent lockdown. The other cities selected are Indore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Goa.

Intrigued by the choice of cities for its showroom launch, we asked Chaturvedi what the critical considerations are for opening a showroom. Explaining the business preference, he said that Delhi and Mumbai were the default selection for opening a showroom based on the intense demand and spending power of people in these regions. Boys and Machines selected Kolkata as a gateway to the east, helping it tap into this new market and utilise the lower RTO tax in the region.

Bengaluru and Hyderabad were the brand’s options for opening its fourth showroom. Keeping in mind the saturation of the Bengaluru market and observing the recent boom in sports car demand in Hyderabad, the company decided to settle with Hyderabad and tap this growing market’s massive demand for sports cars.

After the first round of selection of the city, the company observed two things: the surge in real estate in the region and the rate of sale of premium cars in the area. “Cities that start to buy new cars, which are at almost twice the price of a used one, means the aspiration of people there is high. The prospect of buying a higher tier used car at the price of a brand-new premium car helps meet the aspiration of many in the region. These factors help us decide the next region for starting our business,” Chaturvedi added.

He also revealed the company’s ongoing negotiations with external suppliers to help import cars previously not available in the Indian market from countries like Japan, US and more. He mentioned that the high import duties and the challenging import process are the hurdles that have pushed many players away from importing new and unique products into the market.

He also spoke about the challenges from the market’s unorganised players, especially in the 20-40 lakh price bracket. However, he clarified that this is more of a teething problem in North India as compared to the Southern regions because the North people tend to purchase eight-year-old cars costing more than a crore at just 25-30 lakh, while in the South, people don’t seem to mind spending a lakh or two more on a well-rounded package that offers them peace of mind.

When asked about the challenges the second wave of the pandemic has posed, he said, “The biggest challenge right now is the pandemic. We don’t know when the market opens and what the people’s emotions will be as the second wave has been more deadly or more impactful to everyone from the first wave. So, as of now, the biggest hurdle would be how the country recovers after pandemic and how difficult will it be to find the right product for the buyers”.

On the future plans, he said that the company plans to have a turnover of around 100 crores with approximately seven to eight percent profit margin. (MT)

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Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has further expanded its product portfolio with the launch of the Victoris SUV.

The Victoris is being made available in multiple powertrain options, including petrol with strong hybrid, Allgrip Select (4x4) and factory-fitted S-CNG with an underbody tank design. Bookings are now open at INR 11,000.

The SUV can be had with a 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain with EV mode and e-CVT transmission, a multi-terrain 4x4 system with four drive modes and a CNG variant with dual ECUs.

The Victoris will join the Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara and Jimny to further expand its play in the SUV segment.

The new SUV features a 26.03 cm fully digital instrument cluster, 25.65 cm SmartPlay Pro X infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates and Alexa Auto integration. It also introduces a segment-first Infinity by Harman 8-speaker system with Dolby Atmos, 64-colour ambient lighting, ventilated seats, powered driver’s seat, wireless charging with cooling and a panoramic sunroof.

On safety, the Victoris comes with six airbags as standard, Level 2 ADAS with more than ten driver-assist features, all-wheel disc brakes, electronic parking brake, and a 360-degree camera. In fact, the Victoris has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for both adult and child occupants.

It comes with Maruti Suzuki India’s Arena Safety Shield, including ESP, ABS with EBD, hill hold control and a standard three-year/100,000 km warranty.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The new-age Indian customer is well-travelled, hyper-connected, socially aware, technologically progressive and environmentally responsible. To meet the aspirations of such customers, our new SUV the Victoris has ‘Got It All’. Victoris is a Latin word that means ‘victory’. We are confident the Victoris with its high technology, sleek design, intelligent and connected features, 5-star level safety and multiple environment friendly powertrains will win hearts in India. With Victoris we are strengthening our SUV portfolio and our overall market share.”

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we are always listening to our customers. Today’s young, and dynamic audience consider an automobile as a reflection of who they are – energetic, composed, confident and always moving forward. We gave this brief to our design and engineering teams for the all-new ‘Victoris’. SUVs may be the most loved segment today, but the SUV buyer has evolved. This new generation of young customers are ambitious, hyperconnected and value experiential living. The all-new Victoris is our answer to that shift - a progressive blend of tech, design and versatility. It is engineered with true SUV DNA and sets a new benchmark for what today’s automobiles can feel like. With the Victoris, we’re not just launching another SUV, we’re celebrating a new dimension to driving - one that’s ‘Got It All’.” 

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In celebration of India's dreamers and their aspirations, Mercedes-Benz India has announced the launch of its comprehensive festive campaign, ‘Dream Days’. Scheduled to run from 2nd September to 31st October 2025, the initiative is designed to make the ambition of owning a Mercedes-Benz more accessible than ever through a suite of tailored ownership benefits and experiential engagements.

The 360-degree campaign focuses on creating signature luxury experiences at every customer interaction. A core component is a range of innovative financial solutions aimed at empowering new and existing customers. For its entry and core model portfolios, Mercedes-Benz is introducing financial plans featuring exceptionally low monthly instalments, attractive interest rates and minimal down payments. First-time buyers will receive additional ‘Welcome Benefits’ when trading in their current vehicle.

Further enhancing flexibility, a unique ‘Seasonal Payment Plan’ allows customers to structure their payment schedules around periods of higher cash flow, such as bonus months, alleviating the burden of uniform monthly payments. A standout ‘Key to Key’ programme for select models like the S-Class enables customers to upgrade to a new vehicle after 24 to 36 months with zero down payment, effectively allowing them to own two new Mercedes-Benz cars within a four-year period.

Complementing these ownership advantages, Mercedes-Benz is elevating its customer service with nationwide ‘Service Clinics’. During these events, trained brand engineers will travel to various locations to provide personalised vehicle diagnostics and address owner concerns directly.

The campaign will culminate in the ‘Dream Days Festival’, a first-of-its-kind event touring six key cities: Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. This two-day festival will offer participants hands-on driving experiences across specially designed tracks that demonstrate the capabilities of the brand’s sedans, SUVs, electric vehicles and high-performance AMG models. Attendees can also enjoy immersive brand experiences, such as the Burmester Sound Experience, fostering a deeper connection with the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "India is a nation built on dreams – from startup founders, entrepreneurs to seasoned executives, every dreamer deserves the luxury that they aspire for. This festive campaign, hence, underlines our commitment to fulfil the aspirations of our customers, offering flexible and curated financial solutions, supporting them with their purchase decision. We are confident these financial solutions will find immense value among customers, creating excitement and positive momentum in the market this festive season.”

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has introduced the Creta King and Creta King Limited Edition to mark a decade of its popular Creta SUV in the domestic market. The company has also added new features to other Creta variants.

The Creta King includes features such as R18 diamond cut alloys, a driver power seat with memory function and a passenger seat with electric adjustments. It also comes with a dashcam, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and dual-zone automatic temperature control. The vehicle is available with a 1.5L petrol, 1.5L diesel and 1.5L turbo petrol engine. A new Black Matte colour is also being introduced.

The Creta King Limited Edition adds exclusive ‘King’ branding on elements like the seat belt cover, headrest cushion and key cover. This limited edition is available in Abyss Black, Atlas White and the new Black Matte colours.

The Creta King Knight, with its black design, also receives upgraded features including R18 matte black alloys, electric seat adjustments for the driver and passenger, a dashcam and dual-zone automatic temperature control.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we have always believed in delighting our customers with fresh choices and enhanced experiences. Ahead of this festive season, we are excited to introduce the Creta King and Creta King Limited Edition in our SUV, the Hyundai Creta. These additions, coupled with enriched feature offerings in the Creta line up will reinforce our commitment to offering products that blend style, performance, technology and safety. We are confident that these new introductions will add to the festive excitement and further strengthen the appeal of Hyundai’s most loved SUV among Indian customers.”

Additionally, new features have been added across other Creta variants, including a dashcam, dual-zone automatic temperature control and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. The Creta N Line also gets these new features.

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Honda Cars India has introduced a series of updates to its popular SUV, the Honda Elevate in time for the festive season. The enhancements include new interior colour options and exterior styling upgrades, aiming to give the vehicle a more premium and stylish feel.

The top-of-the-range Honda Elevate ZX grade now features a new Ivory interior theme, complete with ivory leatherette seats and soft-touch inserts on the doors and instrument panel. As an optional extra, customers can choose a new ‘Alpha-Bold plus Grille’ for a more commanding front profile, along with a 360-degree surround vision camera and 7-colour ambient lighting. With these additions, the Elevate ZX offers a choice of three distinct interior themes: Tan, Ivory and Black.

For the V and VX grades, Honda is introducing new black fabric upholstery, which replaces the previous shadow beige option. These variants also feature dual-tone interiors with ivory soft-touch inserts. The new Alpha-Bold plus Grille is available as an accessory for these models and the Crystal Black Pearl colour option is now offered across the V, VX and ZX grades.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The Honda Elevate is a very successful model and has been greatly appreciated by customers for its versatility in both the domestic and export markets. With the introduction of the new ZX grade with ivory interiors and new enhancements across all grades, it is our endeavour to offer more choices to customers during the festive period and warmly welcome them into the Honda family.”

The Honda Elevate is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine and is available with a choice of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT automatic transmission. The SUV continues to offer a range of safety features, including the Honda Sensing advanced driver-assist system in the ZX grade, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control.

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